Dynamic multivalent recongnition of cyclodextrin vesicles

Cyclodextrin bilayer vesicles have dynamic membranes that recognize guest molecules through efficient multivalent host–guest interaction reminiscent of multivalent binding of a ligand with receptors in a biological membrane

Patterned monolayers of nitronyl nitroxide radicals

We report here the results of the preliminary characterization of the monolayer obtained both by self-assembling and microcontact printing of a di-alkyl sulfide nitronyl nitroxide derivative, 11-decyl sulfanyl-undecanyl nitronyl nitroxide of which we describe the synthesis. The sulfide unit has been introduced in order to allow the grafting of the molecule to the gold surface as well as to improve the stability of the organic radical with respect to different grafting agents like thiols, whereas the two long alkyl chains have been introduced to enhance the packing order of the molecules in a self assembled monolayer structure. X-band ESR was used to demonstrate the persistence of the paramagnetic character of the radical in the self-assembled monolayers, and to study its relatively large mobility. The microcontact printed monolayer was characterized by AFM, suggesting a non-negligible mobility of the molecules on the surfaces and a strong tilting of the molecules on the surface

Multivalent host-guest interactions between ss-cyclodextrin self-assembled monolayers and poly (isobutene-alt-maleic acid)s modified with hydrophobic guest moeties

Poly(isobutene-alt-maleic acid)s modified with p-tert-butylphenyl or adamantyl groups interact with ß-cyclodextrin self-assembled monolayers (ß-CD SAMs) by inclusion of the hydrophobic substituents in the B-cyclodextrin cavities. The adsorption was shown to be strong, specific, and irreversible. Even with a monovalent competitor in solution, adsorption to the ß-CD SAMs was observed, and desorption proved impossible. The adsorbed polymer layer was very thin as evidenced by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and AFM. Apparently, all or most hydrophobic groups of the polymers were employed efficiently in multivalent binding, as was further supported by the absence of specific binding of ß-CD-modified gold nanoparticles to the polymer surface assemblies. Supramolecular microcontact printing of the polymers onto the ß-CD SAMs led to assembly formation in the targeted areas of the substrates

Fabrication of arrays of gold islands on self-assembled monolayers using pulsed laser deposition through nanosieves

Sandwich structures of gold-self-assembled monolayer-gold were prepared by deposition of gold on alkylthiolate self-assembled monolayers on polycrystalline gold, using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) through a nanosieve. The arrays of sandwiches, around 600 nm in diameter, approximately 10 nm high, and spaced 1.6 ím apart, were analyzed using tapping mode atomic force microscopy. Electrochemical copper deposition experiments showed that of the islands deposited on octadecanethiolate monolayers about 15% were electrically insulated from the bottom gold electrode. This means that PLD is a suitable technique for the fabrication of metal-SAM-metal sandwich structures

Controlling the supramolecular assembly of redox active dendrimers at molecular printboards by scanning electrochemical microscopy

Redox-active ferrocenyl (Fc)-functionalized poly(propylenimine) (PPI) dendrimers solubilized in aqueous media by complexation of the Fc end groups with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) were immobilized at monolayers of βCD on glass (“molecular printboards”) via multiple host−guest interactions. The directed immobilization of the third-generation dendrimer−βCD assembly G3-PPI−(Fc)16−(βCD)16 at the printboard was achieved by supramolecular microcontact printing. The redox activity of the patterned dendrimers was mapped by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in the positive feedback mode using [IrCl6]3- as a mediator. Local oxidation of the Fc−dendrimers by the microelectrode-generated [IrCl6]2- resulted in an effective removal of the Fc−dendrimers from the host surface since the oxidation of Fc to the oxidized form (Fc+) leads to a concomitant loss of affinity for βCD. Thus, SECM provided a way not only to image the surface, but also to control the binding of the Fc-terminated dendrimers at the molecular printboard. Additionally, the electrochemical desorption process could be monitored in time as the dendrimer patterns were gradually erased upon multiple scan

Monolayer-functionalized microfluidics devices for optical sensing of acidity

This paper describes the integration of opto-chemosensors in microfluidics networks. Our technique exploits the internal surface of the network as a platform to build a sensing system by coating the surface with a self-assembled monolayer and subsequently binding a fluorescent sensing molecule to the monolayer. Fluorescent molecules were used that can switch between a fluorescent and a non-fluorescent state, depending on the acidity of the surrounding solution. Two systems were investigated. The first employs surface confinement of a Rhodamine B dye in a glass micro channel that serves as a molecular switch in organic solutions. Upon rinsing the micro channels with acidic or basic solutions it was possible to switch between the fluorescent and non- fluorescent forms reversibly. Moreover, this system could be used to monitor the mixing of two solutions of different acidity along the micro channel. To widen the scope of optical sensing in micro channels an Oregon Green dye derivative was immobilized, which functions as a sensing molecule for pH differences in aqueous solutions. In this case, a hybrid system was used consisting of a glass slide and PDMS channels. The fluorescence intensity was found to be directly correlated to the pH of the solution in contact, indicating the possibility of using such a system as a pH sensor. These systems allow real-time measurements and can be easily implemented in micro- and nanofluidics systems thus enabling analysis of extremely small sample volumes in a fast and reproducible manner

Preparation of Vesicles and Nanoparticles of Amphiphilic Cyclodextrins Containing Labile Disulfide Bonds

Amphiphilic cyclodextrin derivatives were prepared in which a disulfide bond connects the hydrophobic substituents to the macrocycle. These compounds were obtained by 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-mediated coupling reactions of heptakis(6-amino-6-deoxy)-B-cyclodextrins and disulfide-containing carboxylic acids of increasing hydrophobicity. To improve the water solubility of the cyclodextrins, oligo(ethylene glycol) substituents were grafted to the secondary side of the cyclodextrin molecules. The amphiphilic cyclodextrins form vesicles or nanoparticles in water, which disintegrate in the presence of the disulfide reducing agent dithiothreitol. Hydrophobic guest molecules are released from the nanoparticles upon cleavage of the disulfides